the first ever meeting

November 1 2016

As the last flashes of Diwali lights colours the sky in all its glory, this introvert sits in front of his laptop to fulfill one of the promises he made to himself.To write about his first meeting.One and a half years later he managed to catch a glimse of the very woman which made him rush from his internship just to fix a date with her.It was a Friday evening.An anxious Friday evening which just was not coming.The last two nights did not make him sleep before that Big Day.August 19th.

The loudest cracker seemed to be his heart as every thud of it he could hear.Seemingly perplexed the lingering light was obliterated by the rapidly falling night.The once Salmon and purple sky transformed into a vast expanse of jet black that engulfed him.He picked his eyes off the gravel with the weariness of one who is fatigues with the whining of a small child and raised his eyebrows.

August 19th began with him making all sorts of excuses to make himself board a Jodhpark Bus.To be there at 4 o' clock sharp.It was a friday. A working day mind you!! Come 12 o'clock and he had made a big excuse to the new editor to be near that famous Boithak Cafe.The cafe which was the center of conversations for so many months as he yearned for many a times to meet the girl he loved."Half an hour and that is all you have!! Do not be late as I have tuitions!!"

A somewhat robust looking girl wearing a black top and white leggings peeping from those chic brown specs came walking down from the other side of the road.He took a pause even though all he wanted to do was to take a leap in air.It somehow made him realize that he had a waited for this day for this long."Sorry" he said somewhat apologetically. "Yeah well same here!! I feel guilty at times to think what I have done to you!! " A few selfies ... a box full of chicken baskets which he managed to buy from the money I saved...did become an otherwise ode to a perfect catastrophic combination of rude and arrogant behaviour." Am like this!! and the way I talk to you over phone is the way I talk to everyone else.Sometimes I do miss you...but there is nothing more..We are never compatible..always fighting...I have my own dreams and I do not see them the way you see it..."

He realized he could not take it anymore.Without overtly vilifying her character, he realised that how this introvert side of his used to romanticise everything about her..the fights...the silences..the songs ....the hummings listening to the same song...The fact that a part of him always convinced him that she was right in whatever she did.

As he typed the last few lines, he types rather quickly. The keys in the keypad seems to tell him.." Man, enough is enough!! She was never yours. She was always having dreams of marrying that rich brat while studying in Massachusetts university. His face became one of awkwardness not ever hurrying to save his feelings which was more to fill the void with a non-committal statement of appreciation.Thankyou.Thank you for that half an hour.Your thoughts could have died when it did but the sly heart broke into bits and pieces.

"He is not a prince and this is not a fairy tale.

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down

now it is too late for you and your white horse to come around."